Developing this web space for the project that I’m working on has been hugely satisfying. It is also strengthening the idea of making this place a consistent and ever expanding tool for not only me but eventually a larger community.
Last week proved to be a huge success in terms of making headway on interviews with students and teacher, and discovering new possible angles to the work I’m doing.
Here are short excerpts of interviews that I have conducted so far:
At A.S.E 1, Alternative school (Scarborough, ON)
I spoke with Dan, a teacher who had spent over 20 years within the TDSC and shares his insight about what needs to be done to keep students out of trouble; Cassy loved sharing a million thoughts about what makes ASE such a great school and how it changed her life (she’s one of those characters that could be super to follow for a film doc); Dan is another ‘pumped’ student who found the perfect analogy to how industrialized schools mass produce intelligence in their students.
Pathways to Education (Toronto)
I revisited the interview that I did with Jason a Cree back in February/’10. Jason is a mentor at Pathways, a charitable organization that helps learners in under-privileged situations and communities succeed in school through tutoring, mentorship, financial aid and advocacy (i.e. support for and between parents, students and school administration.)
LaurenHill Academy (Junior High, Montreal)
Andrew is a grade 7-8 English teacher that I interviewed back in January/’10. He has been very happy to be using digital media over the last few years to help student explore ideas and learn how to write. He feels strongly about the excessive use of rote learning in most school systems and, in turn, sees the need to incorporate media into the classroom in order to relate and inspire students.
Following another interview tomorrow, I will be experimenting with a personal narrative in written form to add to a short audio doc/podcast that I will present in next Monday’s class. Stay tuned.
